A few months back, Louis Vuitton unveiled the Montgolfière Aéro Clock, a creation that is an ode to its storied past, an acknowledgement of modern tech and a nod to future trends. As the holiday season approaches, here’s why we think it is the best gift for timepiece/clock collectors and just about anyone who loves the finer things in life.
A piece that travels back in time
Today, the name Louis Vuitton is synonymous with luxury. However, almost 200 years ago, the young Vuitton was relatively unknown, a burgeoning apprentice cutting his teeth as an expert packer of travellers’ goods at the Parisian atelier of Monsieur Maréchal. The knowledge gained on the job helped him build secure and reliable trunks when he opened his atelier 17 years later.
One of the trunks he built early on in his career is the Aéro Trunk, a specially-designed travel chest for hot-air balloon travel. Light and durable with a water-tight seal, the trunk gained popularity for its ability to float on water while preserving its content in the event of any mishap.
This trunk inspired the Montgolfière Aéro Clock, a timekeeping device shaped like a hot hair balloon with a trunk attached to its base.
In tune with our time
Although the Montgolfière Aéro Clock is inspired by the Aéro Trunk, it is every inch a modern-looking piece of device whose design will always be relevant.
At its base is a miniature trunk, one of the smallest the luxury Maison has ever made, featuring the same iconic design codes and similar trunk-making techniques. It houses the movement’s winding mechanism, a L’Epée 1855 LR Calibre mechanical movement with manual winding, consisting of 207 components and offering an impressive eight days of power reserve.
Sitting on top is a brass ‘hot-air’ balloon with red and transparent glass, encapsulating the LV monogram flower which can spin on its centre when pushed gently. It is here that the Swiss mechanical clock can be found, displayed on an upper and lower disc with a smaller LV monogram flower pointing to the hours and minutes.
A limited-edition Montgolfière Aéro Clock Precious variant uses precious wood instead of brass for the wings and has 1,200 diamonds embellishing the balloon’s structure. The LV flower motif in the centre features a 9.06-carat citrine briolette at its heart, while the smaller motif indicating the time also has the precious stone attached to its centre. The trunk is also decked with tiny diamonds, a first-ever for the Maison.
Limited to only eight pieces, it is doubtful that the Louis Vuitton Montgolfière Aéro Precious can be purchased directly from the brand.
A treasure to keep for all time
Just when you think Louis Vuitton could not make the Montgolfière Aéro Clock any more innovative, the collectible timepiece has been designed to sit on a table or, if you’re more daring, to be suspended from the ceiling as a true hot-air balloon floating through time and space.
Priced at 55 000,00€, the Montgolfière Aéro Clock is the perfect gift for art lovers who are also timepiece collectors or just about anyone with an eye for beautiful objets.